Switching mechanism



F. CONRAD.

, swlTcHlNG MEc'HANlsM. ArPPLlCATION FILEDVAPR.14. 1920.`

1543053@ famme. oct. 3,1922,

WITNESSES: INVENTOR A fan/r Conrad.

25. M f77 f l ATTORNEY y rffeateiioci. 3, 1922.

" oFF-ice.

FRANK CONRAD, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.`

SWITCHING MECHANISM.

Aliplitation led April 14, 1920. Serial No. 373,784.

va switching mechanism of the above-indicated characterthat shall be simple and economical 1n construction and that shall be provided withmeans either for locking the various switches jointly or for locking only one of the switches in any of its posi: tions.

In operating an automobile, it is desir-` able to jointly -lock all switches in their off positions and also to lock the lighting switch in. any of its positions when the ignition switch is in any position. Thus, when an automobile -is parked, it is desirable to have the starting switch and the ignition switch lockedin their od positions and to lock the lighting switch either in the off or in an operative position, according to the time of day. Moreover, it is desirable to lock the lighting switch in any of its operative positions when the vignition switch is in an operative position.

In a switch mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention, the ignition switch can be locked'in its o position and the starting switch -is mechanically interlocked with the ignition switch to prevent its operation when the ignition switch is in its oit positions.

The iighting switch may be locked either in its oii' position or in any of its operative positions when the ignition switch is in either the oii'1 or an operative position. It the lighting switch is locked when the ignition switch is in an operative position, the ignition will be automatically locked upon movement 'to the off position.

In the preferred embodiment oit my invention, the ignition switch and the iighting switch severally comprise a rotatabie contact cylinder having notches -formed in it, in accordance with the positions ot the switch, and contact arms for engaging-the contact cylinder, not only to complete electric circuits, but, also, to accentuate the switch positions. The lighting switch is provided with a locking disk which is notched in accordance with the positions of the lighting switch, and the ignition switch is provided with alocking disk which has one notch corresponding to the ,oi 'position'of the ignition switch. A

locking mechanism is provided for operating a latch member tocontrol the locking of the various switches. The latch member is provided with a 4tooth for co-operating with the notches in the locking disk of the lighting switch, and an arm is provided on the latch lmember for co-operatin with the single notch in the locking disk o the ignition switch. A locking arm, which is controlled by a pin projecting from the ignition switch, is provided for locking the starting switch when the ignition switch is in its off position.

In ,the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a'plan view of a switching mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2is a plan view, with the casing removed, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the switch-` ing mechanism; with various parts removed; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the casing; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the starting switch; Fig. 6 is a detail view of the ignition switch, and Fig. 7 is a detail view of the lighting switch. y

Referring to the drawing, a switching mechanism 1 comprises a casing 2, of any suitable material, preferably aluminum bronze,- and a base plate 3 of any suitable vinsulating material.

rllhe casing 2 is provided with lugs t having openings tor attaching the switch mechanism, in any suitable manner, by screws or bolts to thedash board of an automobile. A plate 2EL is attached to the top oit the casing 2 tor in dicating the various positions of the ignition switch and the lighting switch.

The operative parts ot the switch mechanism comprise a lighting switch 5 for controlling vthe lights of' the automobile, an .ignition switch 6 .for controlling the ignition circuits, a starting switch 7, and a locking mechanism 8 for locking the starting switch, the ignition switch and the lighting switch. The starting, lighting and ignition switches are mounted upon the base plate 3, whereas the locking mechanism 8 is mounted upon the casing 2.

rFhe lighting switch comprises a shaft 9 which has a bearing in the base plate 3 and projects through the top ofthe casing 2, as shown in Fig. 1. A lever 10 is mounted on a shaft 9 outside oi the casing 2 and is attached to it in any suitable manner, as by means of a Ascrew 11. FVithin the casing 2, a contact cylinder 12 and a locking disk 13 are mounted upon the shaft 9 and are adapted to be operated, in accordance with the operation of the shaft, by the lever 10. The contact cylinder 12 is provided vwith notches 14 in its periphery which correspond to the operative positions of the locking switch.

'Fhe contact cylinder, which may be of any suitable insulating material,is provided with contact segments 15 which are embedded in it and are adapted to be engaged by the contact arms 16, 17, 18 and 19. rllhe contact arms 16 to 19 not only engage the contact segments for completing the various lighting circuits according to the position of the switch but also resiliently engage the various notches 'in the cant'act cylinder to accentuate the switch positions. The contact arms 16 to 19, inclusive, are supported in any suitable manner upon the base plate 3 as by means oit the contact terminals 20 to 23, inclusive.

'llhe locking plate 13- is preferably made of insulating material and 1s provided with notches 24 which are formed in its periphery in accordance with the positions of the lighting switch. A pin 25 projects from the bottom of the locking disk 13 and engages the sides of a recess 26 in the base plateA 3 to limit the movement of the lighting switch.

The ignition switch 6 comprises a shaft 27 which has a bearing in the base plate 3 and projects through the top oit the casin 2, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. lever 28 is mounted on that portionot the shaft-27 which projects through the casing 2 and is connected to it in any suitable manner, vas by means of a screw 29. A Contact cylinder 30 and a locking disk 31 are rigidly mounted upon the shaft 27 within the casing 2. The contact cylinder 30 is composed of any suitable insulating' material and has notches 32 formed in its cordance with the positions of the switch.

Contact segments 33, which are embeddedI '1n the cylinder 30, are engaged by contact arms 34, 35 and 36 for completing the ignition circuits of the automobile.

'llhe contact arms 34 to 3 6, inclusive, are resiliently mounted upon the base plate 3, not only for controlling the ignition circuit, but, also, for co-operation with the notches 32 `1n the CyllnderO to accentuate the fariperiphery, in ac- Maase@ ous switches positions. 'lhe locking plate 31 is provided with one notch 37 which corresponds to the 0H position of the ignition switch. A pin 38 projects from the bottom of the disk 31 and not only engages the sides of a recess 39 formed in the base plate 3 tov limit the movement oit the Aignition switch, but, also, engages the sides of a notch 40 formed in a locking arm` 41 to govern the locking ot the starting switch.

rllhe starting switch 7 comprises a stationary contact member 42 and a movable contact member 43 which is mounted upon a spring member 44. The movable contact member 43 is forced, into engagement with the stationary contact member 42 by means of a rod 45 which projects through a hole 46 in the casing 2. The rod 45 is provided with an operating knob 46a, an insulating tip 47, a collar 48'which engages the casing 2 for limiting the movement of the rod and a groove 49 within which the locking lever 41`its to lock the starting switch when the ignition switch is in its ofi position. A

screw 50, which passes through a slot 51 in the locking lever 41, is provided for maintaining such lever in position on the base plate 3.

'Flic locking mechanism 8, which is shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawing, comprises a standard lock of any suitable type which operates a pin 52 for governing the movement of alatching late 53, shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing'. rllhe latching plate 53 is disposed in a slot 54 of the base late 3 and is held in position by means of a c amp 55 which is secured to the base plate by A portion 57 of the latching plate 53 is constructed in the form of a tooth 59 to enter the notches in the locking disk 13r and, also, as a support for a springA member 58.

A lever 60 is pivotally mounted upon the latching late 53 and is biased into engagement wit a stop member 61 by means of the s rin member 58. The lever 60 is provide wit a tooth 62 which enters the notch 37 in the locking plate 31 when the ignition switch is in the oil position and the latching plate 53 is moved to lock the various switches. An up-standing portion 63 is provided on the latching plate 53 to be engaged by the pin 52 as it is given a movement of rotation by the lock. 'When the latching plate 53 is raised by the pin 52 engaging the portion 63, the tooth 59 enters one of the notches 24 in the locking disk 13 to lock the lighting switch in whatever position it may be at that time.

lf the ignition switch is in its oil position when the latching plate 53 is raised, the tooth 62l enters the notch 37 and prevents further movement of the ignition switch.

`When the ignition switch is in its oit posithe locking disk 3l operates the locking lever to prevent any movement of the starting switch 7. If the ignition switch is. in any other position, except its oi position, when the latching plate 53 is raised,'the ignition and the starting switches are not locked but will be locked4 as soon as the ignition switch is returned to its off position.

Modifications in the mechanism and arrangement and location of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of my inventio'n, and such modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

I claimas my invention:

l. yIn a switching mechanism, the combination with an ignition switch, a starting switch, and a lighting switch having a plurality of operative positions, of means for locking the lighting switch in any of its operative positions when the ignition switch is in an operative position, and for locking the starting and ignition switches in their ol'l positions.

2. In a switching mechanismthe combination with an vignition switch having an operative and an inoperative position and a lighting switch having a plurality of opera'- tive positions, of means for locking the ignition switch in its of position and for locking the lighting switch in any position when the ignition switch is in either position.

3. In a switching mechanism, the combination with an ignition switch, a starting switch, and a lighting switch having a ."plurality of operative positions, of meanskfor locking the lighting switch in any position when the ignition switch is in an operative position and for jointly loc-king the ignition and starting switches.

4. In a switching mechanism, the combination comprising a lighting switch and an ignition switch comprising a rotatable member having a plurality of positions and means for locking the lighting switch when the ignition switch is in an operative position, said means automatically locking the ignition switch upon its movement to the off position.

5., In a switching mechanism, the combination comprising a lighting switch, a starting switch, an ignition switch comprising a rotatable member having a plurality of positions, and means for locking the lighting switch in any position when the ignition switch is in an operative position, said means authmaticallyl locking the starting switch and the ignition switch when the ignition switch is returned to its oft position and the lighting switch is in a locked condition.

6. In a switching mechanism, the combination with an ignition switch comprising a rotatable drum having a plurality of positions, a lighting switch, and a starting switch, ot means for jointly locking all ot said switches and for locking the lighting switch inde endently of the starting switch and the ignltion switch.

7. In a switching. mechanism, the combination with an ignition switch comprising a rotatable member having a plurality ofxpositions, and a lighting switch, of means for jointly locking said switches when the ignition switch is in its off. position and for locking the lighting switch independently of the ignition switch when the latter switch is in operative position.

8. In a switch-mechanism, the combination comprising a lighting switch and an ignition switch, each of said switches havving a rotatable member, and means for jointly locking said switches when one of said switches occupies a certain position and for independently lock-ing the other of said switches when said one switch occupies other than said certain position.

9. In a switch mechanism, the combination with a lighting switch having a contact cylinder, a plurality of switch members engaging the contact cylinder and a disk connected to said cylinder and notched in accordance with the operative positions voft the switch, and an ignition switch having a contact cylinder, a plurality ofcontactl members engaging the contact cylinder, and a disk connected to said cylinder and having one notch corresponding to the off position of 4the ignition switch, of a lock mechanism, a

latch member operated by said lock mechanism land having a tooth for co-operating with the notched disk of the lighting switch to lock said ignition switch in any position, and a pivotally-mounted lever having a tooth for co-operating with the notched disk of the ignition switch.

10. In a switch mechanism, the combination with a lighting switch having a contact cylinder and la notched disk connected to the cylinder` and an ignition switch having a Contact cylinder, and a notched dish connected to the cylinder, of a loc-k mechanism,

a latch member operated by said loclrrnechanism and having a .tooth for co-operating with the notches in the disk of the lighting switch, a lever pivotally vmounted on said latch member and a spring member Jfor biasing the lever into engagement with. t Ae disk h ignition cylinder to complete the ignition circuit 4and to accentuate the switch positions., of mechanism for locking the two switches in their off positions and for locking the lighting switch in any of its positions.

12. in a switch mechanism, the combination with a starting switch, and an ignition switch having a plurality of operativel po- 1o sitions, said ignition switch having a con- 1 ineens@ tact cylinder for completing the ignition circuit, of moans comprising a latch member for looking the startino switch and a pin projecting from the cylinder of the ignition FRANK CONRAD. 

